An image of St. Nicholas that is believed to be crying has been labeled a miracle by parishioners of a Greek Orthodox church in Hempstead.

Leaders of the Cathedral of St. Paul call the phenomenon a message from God that offers little explanation.

Father Luke Melackrinos, the church pastor, says he was startled when he saw the "tears" streaming down the saint?s face and over his robe for the first time.

"This is something that is unexplainable, even to the average most hardened skeptic," Melackrinos says. "If you look at this, there is no explanation for it. It's just truly something beyond what any person could do. It is just the work of God."

Since the tears were first noticed, parishioners have been flocking to St. Paul to witness what they call a spiritual phenomenon, take pictures and smell the sweet scent of the saint?s tears.

"To see it live now, real tears, it's just so incredibly moving that your whole body fills with just an incredible spirit, and you feel overwhelmingly blessed," says Alison Pantas.

Athena Kallinikos is witnessing the phenomenon for the second time in her life. The first time was 47 years ago, when she saw an icon of the Virgin Mary in the same church cry for 11 straight days.

Kallinikos says this is a message that people need to come back to church. Melackrinos says he believes there is more to it.

"St. Nicholas is trying to tell us to look to each other and help each other, feed the hungry more than what we are doing now," he says.